Pre-Board Secretary Conference Workshop: Words That Work: Mastering Staff Reports, Agenda Titles, &

When:  Nov 3, 2026 from 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM (PT)
Speaker: Stephanie Smith, Best Best & Krieger, LLP

 

Whether you’re briefing a board, informing the public, or capturing the official record, the words you choose matter. This full-day, pre-conference workshop is designed for clerks, executive assistants, analysts, and other district professionals ready to elevate their writing game and communicate with clarity, credibility, and confidence.

We’ll explore how to write staff reports that tell a compelling story and meet legal, administrative, and policy requirements. You’ll learn how to craft agenda titles and recommended actions that are precise, purposeful, and easy to understand. And when it comes to minutes? This session goes beyond the basics to focus on narrative techniques that ensure your minutes are both accurate and accessible, with just the right tone of neutrality and professionalism.

With hands-on exercises, real-life examples, and peer discussion, you’ll leave with practical tools, sample language, and confidence to write with authority, no matter the audience.

$325 CSDA Member / $650 Non-member 

Includes lunch